Pia & Jerry: What’s the score?

A few issues ago, Funfare came out with an interrogative "curtain-raiser" item about Pia Pilapil and Jerry Gonzalo having separated. That item sent considerable shock waves through the showbiz circuit, making many people sit up and wonder, "What could have happened? Aren’t they among the very few happily married couples around?"

Pia had a chance to talk about the rumor the other day over lunch with a dozen movie writers at Bistro Lorenzo (Greenhills) where she was formally introduced by Annabelle Rama as her newest talent.

Wearing a slightly-sexy floral-printed dress that showed a little peek of her cleavage, Pia sat at the kabesera and announced to the over-eager media guys, "Ask any question and I’ll answer each one of them honestly."

The first question was, of course, about her and Jerry, her vision-impaired husband of 10 years. Is it true that their marriage, envied by many other couples who can’t seem to make marital ends meet in a town notorious for split-ups, has hit the rocks?

Sipping her ice tea, Pia very calmly admitted, "Yes, we do have our differences and petty quarrels just like any other couple, but they’re not serious enough for us to separate."

The rumor must have been spawned by people who wondered why the family – Pia and Jerry and their three children ages 8, 7 and 5 – have left their house in Filinvest (Marcos Highway), which was given to Pia as a birthday gift by her father, Doy Laurel, three years ago. The house has been leaking so while some repairs and renovations were going on (to be completed any day now), the whole family decided to temporarily move to the house of Pia’s mom, Pilar Pilapil, who welcomed them with open arms – as usual and as always – Pilar being a doting lola to her grandchildren.

Perhaps, surmised Pia, people must have also been wondering why Jerry stays home (in Pilar’s house, that is) some days of the week and at the Gourmet’s Cafe in Tagaytay City the rest of the week.

"It’s because Jerry is working (at Gourmet’s Cafe) as a salesman," explained Pia without sounding defensive. "Jerry is a B.S. Management graduate from La Salle and he’s making good use of his college degree."

Despite his disability, Jerry is not dependent on anybody; he refuses to be. And that’s what Pia admires about him – Jerry’s being self-reliant.

When Pia met Jerry 10 years ago, Jerry was already blind. Barely two years after he won the Bodyshots contest in 1989 (with John Estrada among his runners-up), Jerry was involved in a car accident on his way home to Antipolo at dawn from a nightout with friends. He was driving alone. His car ran into a tree (or was it a post?) and glass splinters got into his eyes. On impulse, Jerry rubbed his eyes and that worsened his eye injury, depriving him of his sight.

Pia was 19 when she met and fell in love with Jerry whom she didn’t know was blind (he goes around wearing shades). It was love at first sight for Pia and must have been love at first "hearing" for Jerry. They got married soon after.

"Both of us are headstrong," Pia smiled, "parehong with strong character."

Here’s an excerpt from a "personality profile" Pia herself wrote:

Pia was born on October 30, 1973. She grew up with her parents who were both famous, the father being in the political arena and the mother in show business. Growing up in this kind of an atmosphere, she was exposed at a very young age to the realities and complications of life with the interesting and illusory world of showbiz and politics. But she remained a simple and unaffected child with a lot of dreams to become her own person.

Pia studied in different international schools here in the Philippines and in America. She was travelling in between her studies due to her mother and father’s way of life, which was not very common for a child like her who was still into her studies. As a student, she was above average and she excelled in sports such as swimming, horsebackriding, volleyball and gymnastics.

Pia’s hobbies and talents include writing. As a child, she developed a good penmanship for which she became known even up to this time. She is also very good in singing, which she needs to develop some more. As far as fashion is concerned, she has excellent taste and can be very good at fashion consultancy work. Acting-wise, she can be developed to the fullest if properly trained and handled by competent directors.

After a brief stint as newscaster at ABS-CBN, Pia signed a 10-picture two-year contract with Viva Films, finishing only six (Urban Rangers with Raymart Santiago, Sabado Nights with Ina Raymundo, Itataya Ko ang Buhay Ko with Rudy Fernandez, Matinik Na Bading with Andrew E., Balasubas with Ace Espinosa and Hanggang Ngayon Ika’y Minamahal with Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos) and forfeiting the remaining four when her contract lapsed.

"I lay low for a while to concentrate on my family," said Pia who described herself as "a good wife and a good mother who loves taking care of people, especially Jerry."

In the house, Jerry moves around by himself. He even cleans his own car and helps bathe the kids. "Not once did Jerry drop our children, even when they were babies," said Pia.

Away from showbiz, Pia put up a business (Hart-well Trading Company) with two partners, which supplies imported kitchen and laundry equipment to five-star hotels. She and Jerry even did a commercial (for Palmolive Natural Soap) together, a follow-up to which was aborted when some kinks came up regarding their talent fees (Pia was being paid more and Jerry frowned on the disparity in their salary).

"Well," said Pia, "it’s only money."

Their petty quarrels notwithstanding, Pia said that their marriage is a happy one. Because of his condition, Jerry can sometimes become jealous and possessive and Pia understands. They shop together ("But Jerry hates it when I linger in one store," laughed Pia) and they even watch movies together (usually at Glorietta, Megamall or Shangri-La Plaza), with Pia acting as Jerry’s eyes.

"I have to explain the scenes to him," related Pia, "but when the actors are talking, Jerry hushes me up, ‘Quiet!’ Maingay kaming manood ng sine, that’s why people seated around us would keep looking at us. It’s only when the lights are on do they realize, with understanding, kung bakit maingay kami. They then stop wondering why my companion is wearing shades even in the dark."

Now on her second wind as an actress, Pia is deadset on making a go of her off-and-on career, choosing Annabelle as her manager because Annabelle, besides being also Cebuana like Pia’s mom (from Liloan, Cebu), "is like a second mother to me, somebody I’ve known when I was small." Pilar would entrust Pia in the care of Annabelle when Pilar had to shoot and Pia would pass the time playing with Annabelle’s daughter Ruffa, then also a toddler and, like Pia, was educated in American schools.

So what are her expectations now that she’s back in the showbiz mainstream?

"It’s up to Tita Annabelle," said Pia. "I trust her."

She can do sexy roles but not bold ones.

"It’s a big no-no as far as my husband is concerned," stressed Pia. "Jerry can be seloso. How would he know what roles I’m doing? His friends tell him. He even goes over the scripts before I do. He asks for my Mom’s help. When my Mom says, ‘It’s okay,’ then it’s okay with him. Jerry has such respect for my Mom."

Jerry himself is goodlooking enough to be in showbiz. Isn’t it a good idea to have him and Pia, maybe along with Pilar, together in a movie or a TV show?

(Interested producers may start dialing "Tita Annabelle’s" number now.)

Postscript: Jerry’s sight cannot be restored, according to Pia. He has had 10 operations so far, some of them must have permanently damaged vital parts of his eyes.